Spinach and corn Lollipop (Croquette)

4:37 AM


It is said that experience makes you wise. I agree whole heartedly  but at the same time their are certain sensibilities that are instilled in you during your growing up years. or to put it more appropriately it's part of your ethical and moral principal that governs the sense, thoughts and actions in deciding whats right and whats wrong. Same goes with maintaining a healthy balance in everything you do. Now thats a very interesting aspect of life. There is no universally acceptable scale to decide your equilibrium point...rather its your sense and sensibility to priorities your responsibilities and assigning time accordingly is supposed to give you desired result.
A recent interview by a very successful business woman made me think all these. with more and more women opting for successful career, brings in this question whether, we women can have it all. Is it really possible that you can have a successful career, a happy home, healthy relationships and most importantly kids who are happy, educated and well behaved.

I am no expert but with time I also have started to believe that whether to have kids should be a well thought, responsible decision. A decision that one makes devoid of any pressure from society, norms or family expectation. It should not be a social obligation that you are complying to make everyone happy around you. The decision should be one's own and one should be able to own it with all the associated responsibility. Bringing a kid to this world is easy but bringing him her up to be a good human being takes a lot of work and need your time, love and patience. So take the leap when you know you have the time to enjoy this process and more importantly to make your kid feel happy and loved. 

I know at times its very tiring...but you can dial someone who understands to crib, to tell how miserable you are feeling at that moment...and then forget all about it. The days when you cant take it anymore, cry your heart out but do not ever push them down on your list of priorities. Dont bring them to this World thinking that someone else will do the things that a mother should. 

Well thats just my two cents. What's your take on it?

This recipe of spinach and corn croquette is a great example as how to feed fussy kids. Yes presentation and disguising disgusting ingredients (the ones kids detest) is the key to success. Am blessed that my son loves his veggies yet I love to give him surprises like this. The smile on his face when he see such treats, is just priceless...You can use this to bribe him/her to finish the milk and I bet they will.

And now that FIFA World cup final is around the corner, serve this to your man and his gang during the match . You soon would be awarded the best wife title.

Spinach and corn Lollipop

Ingredients:
Spinach: 1 bunch (chopped 2 cups, loosely packed)
Paneer/ Indian cottage cheese: 1 cup (I used homemade)
Corn: 1/2 cup (american sweet corn)
Boiled Potato: 1 medium
Cheese: 2 cubes (Amul processed cheese)
Onion: 1 medium
Ginger paste: 1/2 tsp
Maggi seasoning cube: 1 (optional)
Pepper powder: as per taste
Roasted cumin powder: 1/2 tsp
salt
Chat masala: 1/2 tsp

Cornflakes: 1/3 cup (pound to get a coarse powder) or breadcrumb
Egg: 1
OR
mix 2 tbsp cornflour to 1/4 cup water.

Oil: for shallow frying

Lollipop sticks to serve

Method:
Bring a big bowlful of water to boil, pick wash and chop the spinach in big chunks. Put in the boiling water for 1 minute. Take out with a slotted spoon, wash under running water. Drain and run through the food processor along with the corns to make a very chunky paste. Do not make a smooth paste. You can also chop the spinach very finely if you wish.

Finely chop the onion and keep aside.
Grate or smash the paneer to a fine consistency. 
Mash the potato.

Heat 2 tsp oil. Add the onion and saute till hey change colour. Now add the ginger paste and again cook till the raw smell is gone. Mix in the spinach-corn mix with little salt and cook for 3-4 minutes till the water in it evaporates. Do this on medium flame.

Add the grated paneer and the powdered spices. cook for a couple of minutes. Fianlly add the mashed potato and cook everything together. Check the seasoning and cook for 2-3 minutes. Take off heat and once cool to touch add the grated cheese. Mix well.

Make small croquettes or tikkis from it. dunk in the egg or cornflour mix and coat with cornflakes or brad crumb powder. Place side by side on a plate. Chill in the fridge for an hour.

You can also freeze them at this point for upto 2 weeks in air tight fridge safe container. 

Once ready to fry heat little oil in a frying pan. Shallow fry the croquettes till golden.

To serve poke a lollipop stick in them and serve hot with sauce and milk. 
My son loves it with a side of fresh cucumber-carrot salad.

A Homemaker's Notes:
You can also bake these by brushing the sides with oil and cooking in a pre heated oven at 200C for 15-20 minutes. Flip them to cook evenly on both sides.

You can use any other greens like fresh methi leaves (fenugreek leaves) or Kale. Even finely grated Broccoli will work well.

Events:

to KFB's Game night bites.

What's inside my tiffinbox at motions and emotions.

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12 comments

  1. Good one! I think I will try this one!

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  2. Well people often jump into responsibilities when they are not capable enough to understands things around and give up so easily as the way they jump in..family plays an imp role in anyones life in moulding one as a person..

    These snacks look damn temptiing!

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  3. The lollipops look so tempting and I totally agree to your view..

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  4. Yummmy snack. ..love the presentation! I too saw the interview you are mentioning. .you are right. . We have to take a conscious decision at every point. .can't have it all. .and children should not suffer bcoz we don't have time. . It is very confusing sometimes. .to have our not to .. (thinking of a 2nd child)

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  5. Very well said Sayantani. I totally agree with you. Truely it is difficult for a woman to have it all. Society inflates our ego by comparing us with Goddess and we try to do it all. However at the end of the day we feel exhausted with no time left for ourselves. However we are the only ones capable of everything..
    I am a huge fan of your recipes and I love your pictures too. However I have one request. Will it be possible to post some step by step pictures. Those are a huge help sometimes.

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  6. Thank you Nilanjana for reading through the post. I so want to add step by step pics but right now with two kids (the lil one being 6 months only) life is quite a crazy chaos. but would definitely try

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  7. Lavina, go for the second one only if you have support in terms that someone would come and stay with you for the initial 6 months atleast. otherwise its maddening.

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  8. thank you all for reading the post. it means a lot to me.

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  9. These look awesome. Really great.

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  10. lovely looking lollipops...they definitely make an innovative way of making kids eat :)...love it

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  11. As I always look for new recipes to feed my 11 yr old, this is definitely a nice help to my collection. Thanks Sayantani.

    Very thoughtful comment you made about the decision of having a child as lot of the people don't really think wisely as they like to copy other people and forget that everybody's life is different and unique in her own way.

    ReplyDelete

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